Finger-nail polish remover



J ly 6, 1955 A. E. JOHNSON 2,713,693

FINGER-NAIL POLISH REMOVER File 00 21. 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7ARNOLD E. JOHNSON /E 4 WWW ATTORNEYS July 26, 1955 A. E. JOHNSON FINGER-NAIL POLISH REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1949 HOV INVENTOR. ARNOLD E. JOHNSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent FINGER-NAIL POLISH REMOVER Arnold E. Johnson, New York, N. Y.

Application October 21, 1949, Serial No. 122,760 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-97) This invention relates to finger-nail polish removers and has for an object the provision of a device which can be easily and safely handled-especially by women to remove polish, lacquer, etc., from the nails.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described for cleaning the tips of the fingers which can be used to advantage, particularly by factory workers, photographers and others who often get substances on, around and underneath their nails which are diflicult to remove.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed by way of illustration, and the invention is not limited thereto, but is as defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a finger applicator adapted to be held in the hand and embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2, 2 Figure 1 with the finger F and pad 16 omitted;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of applicator as shown in Figure 1 with pad 16 omitted;

Figure 4 is a view of a hand-operated device embodying the applicator shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the device Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a motor driven device with the applicator .shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a casing for containing the device shown in Figure 6 with pad 16 omitted.

Referring to Figure 1, an applicator comprising a body portion 10 is moulded of any suitable material such as rubber or plastic and has a finger-receiving chamber or cavity 11 therein. The inner walls of this chamber are provided with friction producing surfaces or cavities such as perforations as shown at 12 or the interior ridges and valleys 13 as shown in the modified form 10' in Fig. 3 for a purpose to be presently described.

For hand use, the body of the applicator has an extending neck 14 which may terminate in a knob or handle 15 whereby the applicator may be grasped by hand H.

The chamber 11 is of suflicient internal diameter and depth to receive a liner or pad 16 suitably impregnated with the nail polish remover, a soap, or any other substance it is desired to apply to the finger F and the nail thereon.

The pad or lining 16 is merely placed over the end of the finger and pushed into the chamber 11, whereupon the pad is forced into and against openings 12 or against the ridges and valleys 13 so as to be firmly held to the applicator body 10 or 10 to turn therewith. The pad may project slightly from the open end of the applicator to facilitate removal, as shown at 16, Fig. 1.

Now with the finger and pad in place in the applicator, if the latter is rotated about the finger by giving the hand H a twisting motion around the axis of the applicator through an arc of about 115 while the finger F is held stationary, the pad 16 oscillates over the surface of nail N removing therefrom any coating thereon.

One pad will serve for several applications and obviously the pads can be changed as often as desired. The applicator is easily cleaned and any pad material ad herent thereto is easily removed.

While the device shown in Figure 1 is suitable for personal use, it is desirable, particularly for professional manicurists, to provide a different arrangement wherein the manicurist may operate the applicator. Such a device for hand operation is shown in Figures 4 and 5 wherein the numeral 17 denotes a base supporting anupright 18 in which the applicator 10 is suitably supported for oscillation. In this embodiment the neck 14 and handle 15 are omitted and the applicator provided with an outwardly extending metallic shaft 19 journalled in upright 18.

Secured to shaft 19 in any suitable manner is the handle 20 which, when oscillated, will operate the applicator as previously described.

To relieve the operator from the necessity of operating lever 20, the motor-driven device disclosed in Figure 6 may be used. This device is shown diagrammatically as the mounting and arrangement of the parts thereof upon a suitable chassis or frame and with a cabinet as shown in Figure 7 will be readily understood by a mechanic.

A suitable base or frame 21 has a vertical support 22 on which is mounted an electric motor 23 having a shaft 24 driving a worm 25.

The worm 25 engages a gear 26 and drives same at a suitable speed, say 60 R. P. M.

Gear 26 is mounted to revolve freely over a stub shaft 27 secured to support 22 or in any other manner, and has a connecting rod 28 pivotally secured thereto as shown, the outer end of said rod being pivotally connected to a rocker arm 29.

The arm 29 has a shaft 30 secured thereto and journalled in support 22. Secured to the outer end of shaft 30 is the applicator 10.

A switch 34 is provided to control the motor, and when closed, the motor revolves gear 26 which operates rod 28, arm 29 and shaft 30 in a manner that willbe obvious, oscillating the shaft 30 through about to operate the applicator 10 as aforesaid.

Figure 7 illustrates a suitable casing to contain the mechanism shown in Figure 6. Here the casing 31 may be closed by base plate 21 carrying the device of Figure 6. The applicator 10 will lie immediately behind opening 32 in the casing, or the outer end of the applicator 10 may lie flush with the outer wall of the casing or project slightly therefrom.

A pocket or receptacle 33 is provided to hold a supply of pads 16 or cotton, or other accessories used with the applicator.

The switch 34 is located on the face of the cabinet as shown. The complete device forms a self-contained unit which may be about 4 X 4 inches, and 3 inches high, which is easily transportable and adapted for home or commercial use.

The applicators 10 on the devices Figures 4 and 6 are secured to their supporting .shafts in any suitable manner so that they are quickly detachable therefrom for cleaning or renewal.

By providing the pads 16, each individual user will have a freshly immersed pad and is not concerned lest her fingers are being worked on by pads used by others. This is particularly desirable in manicure shops, beauty salons and the like where the invention is used commercially.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising an applicator forming a finger-receiving chamber having side walls and an inner closed end and adapted to closely surround the end of a human finger to a point below the root of the nail thereon, said chamber having an inner wall, the inner wall being provided with friction producing surfaces comprising radially spaced cavities about the inner surface of said inner wall; a renewable sheet lining overlying said inner wall of said chamber and secured therein by engagement with the surfaces therein, said sheet engaging said surfaces at various points over a substantial surface of said sheet and leaving the latter free at its edges, said edges extending outwardly from said chamber; and means including a handle secured to said applicator and projecting freely therefrom for oscillating same about the longitudinal axis of said chamber.

2. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for oscillating said applicator includes a supporting frame upon which said applicator is mounted for oscillation, a motor, and mechanism connected to said motor and operated thereby to oscillate said applicator.

3. A device of the class described comprising an applicator forming a finger-receiving chamber having side walls and an inner closed end and adapted to closely surround the end of a human finger to a point below the ,root of the nail thereon, said chamber having an inner wall, the inner wall being provided with friction pro ducing surfaces comprising radially spaced cavities about the inner surface of said inner wall; a renewable sheet lining overlying said inner wall of said chamber and secured therein by engagement with the surfaces therein said sheet engaging said surfaces at various points over a substantial surface of said sheet and leaving the latter free at its edges, said edges extending outwardly from said chamber; motor means connected to said applicator for oscillating same; and a casing surrounding and enclosing said applicator and motor means having an opening in a side wall thereof to permit access to said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,875 Webster July 4, 1922 1,710,816 Evans Apr. 30, 1929 2,424,509 Singer July 22, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,266 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1923 213,428 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1924 271,621 Great Britain June 2, 1927 

